There are several reasons for the particularly poor quality of roads in recent years, including several severe winters. Complaints about potholes and road maintenance issues filed with the city spike dramatically in years following unseasonably cold, white winters.

In a typical year the city receives about 850 road complaints, but that number jumped to 1,900 last year after a brutal winter that saw the average temperature drop to -3 C and 249 centimetres of snow.

Normal temperatures for Windsor average out at 0 C, while typical snowfall levels are 129 cm, according to data from Environment Canada. Spikes in road complaints in 2011 and 2008 also correspond to unusual winters.

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The road surface along a short strip of McDougall Avenue near Windsor Stadium is a patchwork of asphalt repair jobs, potholes and crumbling shoulders. Residents hate the condition of the busy strip and the damage it does to their cars.

Denis Meloche says it’s one of the worst roads he’s seen in Windsor, which is a bold statement considering an estimated 20 per cent of the street network is due for an entire rebuild, according to city staff.

McDougall is slated for reconstruction this summer, but residents say that work is long overdue. People lodged eight complaints last year about this section of road. Since 2009, there have been 20 complaints, putting it in the top three citywide.

Meloche, who moved to the neighbourhood six years ago, has complained to Windsor’s 311 service centre. He’s sent letters to councillors. But the only solution for years has been temporary patchwork.

“That’s certainly a bad piece of road over there,” he said. “If there’s a road that needs fixing, that’s one that should be on the list.”

Keeping up with road rehabilitation has been a challenge, even with a slowly increasing repair budget. Since 2009, the city has spent on average $24.5 million a year resurfacing some of its worst roads. That figure is well above the $10.5 million annual average spent between 2000 and 2008, according to a detailed analysis of Windsor’s road rehabilitation budget.

Since 2000, the city has spent $280 million on road repairs, but it hasn’t been enough. Even if council dropped that kind of money in one year, it still wouldn’t pay for the 385 kilometres of road that need an estimated $391 million in repairs.

The city plans to spend about $85 million in the next five years, but that won’t go far either. As the worst roads are restored there are dozens of others falling into disrepair, said city engineer Mark Winterton.

“We don’t have enough money to do what we need to do,” he said. “We have not made significant progress in the last 10 years. Roads are falling into disrepair as fast as we can keep up (with the older ones).”

Foch Avenue resident Denis Meloche stands in front of his home in Windsor, Ont. on April 15, 2015. The City of Windsor has identified McDougall Avenue as one of the roads with the most complaints. Meloche lives on Foch Avenue and uses McDougall daily to travel to and from his home. (DYLAN KRISTY/The Windsor Star)

Hickory Road resident Dave Chenetz sits in front of his house in Windsor, Ont. on April 15, 2015. The City of Windsor has identified Hickory Road as one of the streets with the most complaints. (DYLAN KRISTY/The Windsor Star)

Janine Bailey stands next to McDougall Avenue in Windsor, Ont. on April 15, 2015. The City of Windsor has identified McDougall Avenue as one of the roads with the most complaints. Bailey lives on Foch Avenue and uses McDougall daily to travel to and from her home. (DYLAN KRISTY/The Windsor Star)

Hickory Road resident Shane Kett stands in front of his house in Windsor on April 15, 2015. The City of Windsor has identified Hickory Road as one of the streets with the most complaints. (DYLAN KRISTY/The Windsor Star)

Motorists told The Star poor road conditions are a result of the city’s lengthy property tax freeze. City treasurer Onorio Colucci disagrees. Despite holding the line on taxes, he says, the city managed to increase capital spending, including road repairs.

“Instead of holding line on taxes, the city could have had increases and then dedicated those funds for roads. It’s hard to argue against that,” Colucci said. “But if the criticism is: you’ve achieved holding the line on taxes by cutting back on road funding, clearly that’s not the case.”

to increase rehabilitation work over four years could dominate council talks in the coming weeks and months. Coun. Hilary Payne, who proposed the idea, said his fellow councillors are so far split on his proposal.

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During a strategic planning meeting scheduled for early next month, he plans to make another pitch for the gradual introduction of a one-per-cent levy that would create $40 million in additional funds after four years.

Drivers contacted by The Star support the idea.

“I’d like to see things improve and for a one-per-cent tax hike, that’s cool. I’m OK with it,” said Ken Charette. “Some of the roads are really tough and it’s not a secret. I mean, we all know them.”

Even without a new tax, motorists are already paying for the poor roads through the damage to their vehicles. Potholes can tear chunks out of tires, bend rims or snap tie rods that are designed to keep wheels in alignment, according to mechanics.

Mechanic Russ Hazelhurst (left) and owner Dave Crundwell inspect the tie rods on the front end of a van with damage caused by potholes at Cowell Automotive & RV Center, Friday morning. (GABRIELLE SMITH/Special to The Windsor Star)

Windsor motorist Ken Charette stands on Wyandotte Street East near Pilette Road in Windsor on April 15, 2015. Wyandotte Street East is slated to be re-paved and is riddled with cracks and potholes. (DYLAN KRISTY/The Windsor Star)

Mechanic Russ Hazelhurst (left) and owner Dave Crundwell inspect the tie rods on the front end of a van with damage caused by potholes at Cowell Automotive & RV Center, Friday morning. (GABRIELLE SMITH/Special to The Windsor Star)

Already this year Dave Crundwell, of Cowell Automotive and RV Centre, is seeing a long line of customers in need of wheel alignments. There’s also been a regular stream of vehicles coming in with broken sway bars and tie rods, both of which help stabilize the car and tend to wear down or break because of poor road conditions.

“Over time, the constant pounding wears them down and we’ve seen quite a few (sway bars) snap this year,” Crundwell said.

Residents along Hickory Road feel that pain. The 1700-block was the source of the most complaints about potholes and other road maintenance issues since 2009 with a total of 23 records filed with the city.

“The whole road is terrible,” said Shane Kett, who lives on Hickory. “You end up getting a lot of rattles and stuff like that … from banging on the bumps all the time. It’s a factor on how fast stuff on your car wears out.”

Windsor’s not alone with its growing network of crumbling streets. Complaints from Ontario municipalities and the province’s Transportation Ministry about roads cracking prematurely led one industry association to launch an investigation into

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